Lisl Weil, a dancer who often performed in New York with friend Tommy Scherman and his Little Orchestra Society, was also a splendid charcoal artist. Here, accompanied by Sherman’s musical interpretation of the Paul Dukas classic, she soars across the screen, drawing abstract characters on a massive blank board in a timeless, fun film that juxtaposes wonderfully with the better-known Disney treatment in 'Fantasia.'


This movie is part of the collection: Academic Film Archive of North America

Director: Edward English
Producer: Edward English
Production Company: Weston Woods
Sponsor: Weston Woods Institute
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: charcoal; dukas

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Reviewer: Wilford B. Wolf - - November 8, 2010
Subject: Art + Music = Genius
A wonderful piece that is still relevant despite the age. Using the tone-poem "Sorcerer's Apprentice" as the basis, charcoal art is created in real-time to the music. It really helps that the artist is a dancer as well, since she moves in time to the music, giving the art a real dynamism. The art style is a little dated (it reminds me of the late 50s/early 60s UPA minimalist school), but the music and the way it is created help transcend that.